North Country Briefs

Court spies phony paper;

Carthage man arrested

Police say a man tried fooling a court clerk, and now he is jailed under $10,000 bail.

Steven J. Ledbetter, 27, of 664 West End Ave., Carthage, was arraigned Wednesday in town of Watertown Court on a felony charge of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Town Justice Andrew N. Capone set bail and sent him to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building to await grand jury action.

The arrest was made by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department on a complaint prepared in town of LeRay Court. Documents allege that Mr. Ledbetter went to the court in Evans Mills on Monday afternoon and displayed a receipt to show that on May 21, 2008, he paid a $75 fine for using a cell phone while driving. He did that because he recently was notified that his license was suspended for failure to answer the cell phone summons, according to the court's complaint.

The receipt was phony, the court alleged.

Burglary suspect accused

of using pit bull in threat

BROWNVILLE — A man who allegedly threatened to turn his pit bull loose on a police officer during a burglary investigation Wednesday was jailed under $10,000 bail.

State police arrested Brian J. Gunn, 32, of 237 E. Main St., on charges of second-degree burglary, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated harassment and three counts of second-degree harassment. He was placed in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, Watertown, on Wednesday evening after being arraigned before Adams Town Justice Donald B. Shaw.

Police said he is accused of entering the home of his neighbor, Tyler A. Thorigal, 235 E. Main St., about 12:15 a.m. Wednesday and of punching Mr. Thorigal and Andrew T. Thorigal several times. The intrusion occurred in the presence of a 7-year-old child, police said.

He later sent threatening text messages to Andrew Thorigal, police alleged.

Wednesday afternoon, village Police Chief Larry B. Jobson, former Jefferson County undersheriff, attempted to interview Mr. Gunn about the alleged incident and was threatened with the dog, police said.

Lowville man arrested

in theft of stereo gear

CARTHAGE — A Lowville man was jailed Wednesday after he allegedly entered a vehicle at a residence on County Route 42 in the town of Wilna and stole stereo equipment about 10 a.m., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

Corey J. Noftsier, 18, is charged with second-degree burglary and petit larceny in connection with the incident at the home of Jeffrey Brennan, a deputy said. Carthage Village Justice S. Lucille Shettleton set bail at $5,000, sending him to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, Watertown.

A nearby resident who knows Mr. Noftsier saw him go to the rear of the house, then leave while carrying something, the deputy said. Mr. Brennan returned home after being notified by the neighbor and determined the theft had occurred.

The equipment was recovered subsequent to Mr. Noftsier's arrest, the deputy said.

Man accused of sending

text in violation of order

Watertown police say a man violated a Family Court order of protection by sending a text message to a woman.

Sisrow Crawford, 48, of 630 Boyd St., was charged Wednesday with second-degree criminal contempt on a complaint filed by Lisa A. Coney, 501 Academy St., according to police. The message was sent Sept. 30, police said.

Two Russell teenagers

hurt in fall from trunk

RUSSELL — Two Russell girls were seriously injured early Thursday afternoon when they fell off the trunk of a car and hit their heads on the road.

St. Lawrence County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Albert Duquette said Brandon Church, 18, of 2744 County Route 24, was driving on Belleville Road around noon with two girls riding on the trunk, sister Kaitlynn Church, 17, and Jessica Gollinger, 15, of 783 Blanchard Hill Road, when he sped up the car. The sudden burst of speed pushed both girls off the car.

Detectives said Mr. Church wasn't driving fast, but was speeding up and then slowing down quickly several times before the incident.

Both girls were taken to E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur with head injuries. Ms. Church, who had bruising on her brain and lungs, later was taken by ambulance to Upstate Medical University in Syracuse for further treatment.

The investigation is continuing, and charges are pending.

Grand jury will hear case

of Ogdensburg robbery

The case of an Ogdensburg man accused of robbing a gas station and convenience store in the city last week will go before a St. Lawrence County grand jury.

Brent M. Rabideau, 20, of 1120 Lafayette St., is charged with Class E felony fourth-degree grand larceny in the Sept. 30 robbery of the Sunoco station at 728 Canton St. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Ogdensburg City Court. That sends his case to the St. Lawrence County grand jury .

Mr. Rabideau was ordered held in the St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

Mr. Rabideau is represented by Christopher R. Curley of the St. Lawrence County public defender's office.

Norwood man charged

with burglarizing store

WEST STOCKHOLM — A Norwood man is accused of burglarizing Webster's Meat in Knapps Station last month.

Lucas J. Tebo, 19, of 17 High St., was charged Wednesday with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal mischief, St. Lawrence County sheriff's detectives said. He reportedly broke into the business Sept. 2 by cutting a window screen, but an alarm sounded and he left without taking anything.

He was arraigned in Stockholm Town Court and sent to St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, on $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond.

Antwerp teenager admits

making threats to woman

ANTWERP — A town of Antwerp man has admitted in court that he threatened to assault a woman and told her he has "a bullet with your name on it," according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

Johnny Forney, 18, of 35220 Carpenter Road, was fined $225 after he pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment before Antwerp Town Justice Donald F. Hull.

The sheriff's office charged Mr. Forney on Saturday on a complaint by Elizabeth A. Davenport, 19, Theresa. The threats were made Sept. 24, according to sheriff's documents.

Watertown man charged

with cruelty to animal

Scott C. Carr, 22, of 115 Paddock St., Apt. 1, was charged Wednesday by city police with cruelty to an animal, and is summoned for arraignment in City Court.

Police alleged that his pet beagle has become emaciated because it has been deprived of food and water at 641 Academy St.